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The Xu (Deficiency) pulse is slow, large, and soft. Upon heavy pressure, it feels absent; under the finger, there is a hollow, empty sensation. Cui Zixu stated: "Although the form is large, the force is thin; its deficiency can be known." It indicates conditions such as heatstroke, palpitations (Zhenchong), spontaneous sweating, fright palpitations, fever, Yin deficiency, abdominal distension, flaccidity syndromes (Wei Bi), spermatorrhea, and diarrhea. The Classics state: "Blood deficiency leads to a Deficiency pulse." It also states: "When the Qi of the pulse comes weak and faint, it is called 'not reaching' (Bu Ji), indicating disease in the interior." It further states: "For chronic diseases, if the pulse is Deficient, death ensues." In contrast, the Kou (Hollow) pulse feels large like a sweet onion, which differs from the hollow emptiness of the Xu pulse. The so-called San (Scattered) pulse has a form like scattered willow catkins; its coming and going are irregular, the breath count is difficult to align, lacking order and constraint, dissipating and unable to gather. Slight pressure causes it to scatter without coalescence. It indicates conditions such as overflow drinking (Yi Yin), blood depletion, palpitations, collapse sweating, and edema. For parturient women, its appearance indicates delivery; for pregnant women, it indicates miscarriage; for healthy individuals, it indicates death. The *Nan Jing* states: "If the Scattered pulse appears alone, it is perilous." Liu Shi stated: "The Scattered pulse indicates both Blood and Qi are deficient, with the root having detached." If seen at both Chi positions, it signifies the soul departing to the netherworld. However, if the Heart pulse is洪大 (Hong Da, Surging/Large) with slight scattering, or the Lung pulse is Floating and Choppy with slight scattering, these cases are not necessarily adverse. This illustrates that the Scattered pulse differs from the Deficient pulse, and the Deficient pulse differs from the Hollow pulse.

The Jie (Knotted) pulse is slow with occasional pauses, but the pauses have no fixed interval. The Dai (Intermittent) pulse involves a cessation of movement that cannot recover spontaneously, requiring a restart, and the pauses occur at fixed intervals. Pulse studies state: "A rapid pulse with occasional pauses is named Cu (Rapid-Interruption); a slow pulse with occasional pauses is called Jie; only when the pause cannot return immediately is it Dai." Jie generally indicates life, while Dai generally indicates death; their paths differ. However, although Dai is considered a death pulse due to Qi decline, it may also appear in wind disorders, extreme pain, or pregnancy complicated by cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, meaning Dai can also indicate survival. As for Jie, although it is commonly seen in Yin stagnation, phlegm accumulation, masses, abscesses, hernias, etc., when it appears in patients with severe blood loss, death is often inevitable. This does not strictly adhere to the rule of fixed intervals. In summary, Jie pulses mostly indicate survival, while Dai pulses mostly indicate death. Li Shizhen (Binhu) stated: "Five beats per breath indicate sufficient Qi in the Lungs, Heart, Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys. Fifty movements constitute one breath cycle, conforming to the number of Dayan, termed a Normal pulse. Deviating from this results in pauses. If Kidney Qi fails to reach, a pause occurs after forty movements; if Liver Qi fails to reach, a pause occurs after thirty movements. This implies that when one organ's Qi declines, another organ's Qi takes over to reach." Hua Borin stated: "If a person is emaciated without illness and presents a Dai pulse, it is a critical pulse. If ill with sudden damage to Qi and Blood, where Qi cannot continue, it is merely a pathological pulse. In Taiyang disease with palpitations and a Dai pulse, Fumai Tang (Recovering Pulse Decoction) should be used. During pregnancy, a Dai pulse indicates the fetus is full-term. One must distinguish whether Dai indicates life or death."